IT came late, very late, but big Mark O’Sullivan’s 59th minute goal was crucial as Dripsey saw off stubborn Carrignavar to reach their first Evening Echo Cork Co JHC decider in their short history under lights at Páirc Uí Rinn on Saturday.

THE American military is testing innovative mobile phone SIM cards in Afghanistan and Iraq, which were developed by an Irish company.

The Beverage Council of Ireland (BCI) wants the Government to reduce the VAT rate on bottled water, fruit juices and soft drinks in next week’s Budget from its current level of 21% to 13.5%.

REDBRANCH, a not-for-profit consultancy which provides healthy eating and lifestyle seminars to primary school children, has accused the country’s soft drink lobbyists of attempting to blatantly market their products in the classroom.

THE popular soft drink Diet Club Lemon was withdrawn from the shelves yesterday after it was found to contain high levels of a cancer-causing chemical.

I FIND it quite amazing that after all their time in office the Government appear to be suffering from tunnel vision (not the Dublin kind).

The Government came under pressure today to reduce VAT on bottled water.

SOFT drinks have been scapegoated for the rise in obesity among children, beverage industry chiefs said yesterday.

The Beverage Council of Ireland has said pubs are charging customers too much for soft drinks.

TÁNAISTE Mary Harney said yesterday people should not pay high prices for soft drinks and fruit juices in pubs.

The Beverage Council of Ireland has described the Government’s voluntary identity card scheme as a "complete failure".